Pop Fidget Toy

ABSTRACT

A device capable of providing tactile and audible stimulation comprised of multiple shells of flexible material embedded into the surface of a housing body where the internal volume under each shell is connected via internal passages within the housing body to corresponding volumes under neighboring shells. This device is configured in such a fashion that when one or more shells are transitioned from a convex state to a concave state an equal number of shells previously in concave state are restored to convex state. This produces the tactile sensation that the user is popping a bubble along with a corresponding popping sound. The user can repeatedly depress shells in a way that does not change the total number of convex shells in the device and therefore it may be operated indefinitely without reconfiguration or reorientation.

RELATED APPLICATION

Priority is claimed to Provisional Pat. Application Serial US 63/361546, filed Jan 24^(th) 2022.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A popular and ubiquitous fidget toy is comprised of a set of bubble like protrusions formed into a sheet of flexible material. When the user depresses a bubble that is in a convex state it is transitioned to a concave state. After having depressed all the bubbles into a concave state the operator of the toy can then flip the toy over and continue this process from what now appears as all bubbles having been reset to their convex state. One of the key features of this toy is that it requires reorientation for continuous use, i.e. after all the bubbles have been depressed, the toy must be flipped over to continue popping.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a device comprised of multiple shells of flexible material that are embedded into the surface of a housing body where the volume enclosed under each shell is connected via internal passages within the housing body to the corresponding volumes under neighboring shells. This device is configured in such a fashion that when one or more of the shells are depressed, and transitioned from a convex state to a concave state, the increased pressure inside the device created by the reduction of the internal volume below the shell or shells being depressed correspondingly restores an equal number of other shells previously in a concave state to a convex state. During this transition an audible popping sound is created along with the tactile sensation that the user is popping a bubble. The user can repeatedly depress shells in this way without changing the total number of shells in convex and concave states and therefore it may be operated indefinitely without reconfiguration or reorientation. The initial states of the shells may be configured by the user such that one or more the shells are initially in a convex state with the remaining shells in concave state.

Unlike fidget popper toys in the state of the art, this device can offer continuous popping without the need to reorient, i.e. flip or otherwise reconfigure the device. Additionally, the device is designed to provide a novel tactile sensation during operation that may include the use of a squeezing action. Furthermore, the device amplifies audible responses created during operation because each time the user depresses a single shell there are two shells that concurrently exchange configurations, the one being depressed and the other responding to it, and thus the net response of a single shell transition is effectively doubled.

To facilitate manufacturing and assembly the device may be manufactured in and assembled from multiple parts. These parts may be assembled by any suitable means of adhesion or via the inclusion of integrated press or snap fit joint components to provide an airtight connection between the mating portions of the parts after assembly. These parts may be manufactured of identical or dissimilar materials of same or differing colors and styles to support mix matching the individual parts.

Additionally, the shells may be of any number, size, shape, orientation or arrangement. This device may be created as a standalone product or its functional constituents may be integrated into any other products.

These and other features will become more apparent in the detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings, which further illustrate the principles of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a basic embodiment of the device with four shells arranged in a planar grid where all shells are shown for illustration in a convex state.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same embodiment and configuration as FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a top view of the same embodiment and configuration as FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a section view taken from FIG. 3 where internal elements including the passages can be identified.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view the same basic embodiment as FIG. 1 but where the left flexible shell has been initially configured in concave state with all other shells in convex state.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the basic embodiment in FIG. 5 but representing the state of the device after the user has depressed the front shell into concave state and where the left shell has been restored to convex state.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the same embodiment as FIG. 1 but with the front right shell in concave state and remaining shells in convex state.

FIG. 8 is a section view taken from FIG. 7 where the shell in concave state can be seen relative to the other internal features of the device.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a basic embodiment of a cell.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the same cell embodiment as FIG. 9 .

FIG. 11 is a top view of the same cell embodiment as FIG. 9 .

FIG. 12 is a section view taken from FIG. 11 where internal elements of the cell can be identified.

FIG. 13 is a section view demonstrating the deep integration of cell housing bodies of the basic cell embodiment of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the device created by the deep integration of four cells of the basic embodiment of FIG. 9 . arranged in a planar grid where all shells, for illustration, are shown in a convex state.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the same embodiment and configuration as FIG. 14 .

FIG. 16 is a side view of the same embodiment and configuration as FIG. 14 .

FIG. 17 is a side view of the same embodiment and configuration as FIG. 14 after having been dissected into parts along a horizontal plane identified by the dotted line.

FIG. 18 is a top perspective view of the same embodiment and configuration as FIG. 17 .

FIG. 19 is a top view of the same embodiment and configuration as FIG. 17 .

FIG. 20 is a section view taken from FIG. 19 where internal elements and split line can be seen.

FIG. 21 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a top part where press fit joints have been integrated.

FIG. 22 is a bottom view of the embodiment of the part shown in FIG. 21 where an annular press fit joint is shown encircling all shells in the part and another annular press fit joint is shown encircling the hole through the center of the device.

FIG. 23 is a section view taken from FIG. 22 where the profiles of male components of the press fit joints are shown along with other internal features.

FIG. 24 is another section view taken from FIG. 22 where the profiles of male components of the press fit joints are shown along with other internal features.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a bottom part where mating press fit joints have been integrated.

FIG. 26 is a top view of the embodiment of the part shown in FIG. 25 where an annular press fit joint is shown encircling all shells in the part and another annular press fit joint is shown encircling the hole through the center of the device.

FIG. 27 is a section view taken from FIG. 26 where the profiles of female components of the press fit joints are shown along with other internal features.

FIG. 28 is another section view taken from FIG. 26 where the profiles of female components of the press fit joints are shown along with other internal features.

FIG. 29 is a top view of another embodiment of the device where the shells are arranged in a row.

FIG. 30 is a top view of another embodiment of the device where the shells are arranged in a grid.

FIG. 31 is a top view of another embodiment of the device where the shells are arranged in a ring.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the device where the shells are arranged in a ring and where the axes through which shells transition states are oriented radially.

FIG. 33 is a side view of the embodiment of the device of FIG. 32 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in the accompanying drawings, for purposes of illustration, the present invention resides in a device which is particularly suited for use as a fidget toy where an operator can depress the various flexible shells in the device producing audible and tactile stimulation.

In the most basic embodiment the device is comprised of a housing body (1), multiple flexible shells (2) that are embedded into the surface of the housing body and internal passages (3) within the housing body that connect the internal volumes (4) under the flexible shells. A basic embodiment of the device is shown in FIGS. 1-4 configured with four flexible shells arranged in a planar grid. This embodiment is shown with all shells in a convex state for purposes of illustration only. It is to be understood that the use of the terms concave and convex in this context describe the curvature of a shell relative to the device, where convex state indicates the shell is curved outwardly or away from the housing body whereas concave state indicates the shell is curved inwardly or towards the interior of the housing body.

In FIG. 4 the plane creating the section view bisects the passage connecting the internal volumes between the front two shells. The passages that connect the internal volumes below the front shells to the internal volumes below the corresponding back two shells transit the housing body through analogous passages appearing as the two rectangles in this view. It should be noted that these passages may be of any suitable shape and path through the housing body sufficient to connect the internal volumes under neighboring shells, though in preferred embodiments they are rectangular prisms.

The particular shape of the housing body, the arrangement, orientation, shape and number of the shells as well as shape and layout of the passages may take any suitable form and those identified for the basic embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4 are provided for purposes of illustration only.

In preferred embodiments, the shells are generally hemispherical but could be of any shape, symmetrical or otherwise, capable of transitioning between a concave and convex state and vice versa when integrated with the housing body. In addition, the surface of the flexible shells may be smooth, textured or contain additional features such as bumps to provide additional tactile stimulation.

In preferred embodiments, each shell is connected to the housing body via a flexible integration flange. This flexible integration flange facilitates the transition of the shell between its convex and concave states and vice versa when integrated with the housing body. In preferred embodiments the integration flanges take the form of an annular planar extension from the shell equator to the housing body. This annular extension (10) can be identified in FIG. 4 as the horizontal extension connecting the aperture of the hemispherical shells to the thicker walls of the housing body.

The flexible shells may be configured to have uniform or non-uniform thickness. In preferred embodiments the shells thicken gradually towards their apexes (9). This feature provides the feeling of additional resistance when depressing at the center of the shell, facilitates maintenance of the shell in the concave state after being depressed and also aids in amplifying the sound that is created when the shell is transitioned. Because during every interaction with the device at least two shells change configuration nearly simultaneously, one associated with the convex to concave transition created directly from the user input and another associated with the transition of the responding shell from concave to convex state, the audible and tactile response of the device is further amplified.

The primary function of the housing body is to provide an airtight enclosure for the device that maintains a fixed configurable internal volume within the device. This internal volume may be configured such that one or more of the flexible shells are initially in concave state with remaining shells a convex state. FIG. 5 shows an example of the previously discussed basic embodiment where the device has been configured initially with a single shell in concave state (6) and the remaining three shells in convex state (5). When the user depresses any one of the shells in a convex state into concave state the increased pressure resulting from the reduction of internal volume below the shell being depressed correspondingly restores a shell previously in a concave state to a convex state. FIG. 6 depicts the device in the state after the front center shell of FIG. 5 has been transitioned into concave state by a user depressing the shell at its apex along the identified axis (7). This action results in the transition of the left shell, previously in concave state, into convex state through the corresponding axis (8). For this basic embodiment, the axes through which the shells transition between concave and convex states and vice versa are parallel but this need not be the case. In other embodiments the shells may be arranged such that these transition axes may extend radially outward from the central region of the device as in the embodiment identified in FIGS. 32-33 . In yet other embodiments the orientations of these axes and associated orientation of the shells may be arbitrary.

If the device of FIG. 5 were to have been initially configured to have two shells in convex state and two shells in concave state the operator could then simultaneously depress up to two shells in convex state into concave state which would then restore the corresponding number of shells previously in concave state to convex state. The ability to configure the initial number of shells in each state provides supports different ways of interacting with the device, i.e. more than one shell in convex state can be transitioned concurrently. For practical reasons, anywhere between one and all but one of the shells may be initially configured in convex state with the remaining shells in concave state. This ensures that there is always at least one available pair of shells able to exchange configurations.

Another function of the housing body is to provide a support structure for the shells, in preferred embodiments via their integration through flexible shell integration flanges, to maintain the shape and orientation of the shell apertures throughout the transition of shells between their concave and convex states. FIGS. 7-8 depict the previously discussed basic embodiment but with front right shell in concave state and the remaining shells in convex state. It can be seen in the section view of FIG. 8 that the orientation and shape of the shell apertures for both the convex and concave state shells are maintained at the location where they are integrated with the housing body.

In preferred embodiments cavities (11) in the housing body directly below each flexible shell accommodate the transition of the shells to concave state without interference between the shells and housing body. This can be seen in section view of FIG. 8 where the shell on the right has been transitioned into concave state and can be observed to not be obstructed by the housing body. In preferred embodiments the cavities profiles (12) are shaped so as to generally align with the profile of the shells when in their concave state (13). This feature minimizes the total internal volume below the shell when in concave state, maximizes the resulting internal pressure increase realized inside the device during transition which in turn facilitates the transition of the responding shell.

The shape and outer profile of the housing body may take any form sufficient to provide structural integrity to the device and suitably maintain the desired alignment and orientation of the shell apertures during transition of the shells between configurations. In preferred embodiments, the outer boundary of the housing body (14) may be formed by the union of projected cavity profiles from all the cavities in the device where these projections are generally extended away from and tangential to the respective cavity profiles. When suitably configured this process results in a generally uniform thickness wall extending outwardly from each cavity profile that intersects with the walls of neighboring cavity profiles. The section view of FIG. 8 demonstrates formation of the outer profile of the housing body (14) having been created by union of outward projections of the cavity profiles (12).

Additional embodiments of the device may also be constructed via integration of individual cells where these cells are each comprised of a cell housing body (15), a single flexible shell embedded into surface of this cell housing body (16) and a cell cavity in the cell housing body (17) directly below the flexible shell that accommodates transition of the shell to concave state without interference. After the above integration it is understood that the integrated set of cell housing bodies constitutes the device’s housing body. FIGS. 9-12 disclose a basic embodiment of a single cell for purposes of illustration.

The device may then be constructed from a set of similar or dissimilar cells of any size, shape or arrangement by integrating their respective cell housing bodies to form the device housing body. After this integration the internal volumes under each shell may then subsequently be connected to the internal volumes under neighboring shells by passageways connecting neighboring cell cavities where it is understood that these passageways constitute the device’s passages.

These cells may be integrated to various degrees. At one extreme they may be deeply integrated as can be seen in section view of FIG. 13 where two cells of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 have been deeply integrated with each other. In this configuration the cavity profile of any given cell housing body has been aligned to coincide with the outer profile of neighboring cell housing body and vice versa (19). A preferred embodiment constructed of four deeply integrated cells in a planar grid can be seen in FIGS. 14-16 where the housing body created by the integration of the four individual cell housing bodies is shown (20).

On the other extreme, the individual cells may be arranged so as not to physically contact each other. In this configuration the passages would be realized by the addition of pipes that are integrated between and through neighboring cell housing bodies. However, we may then consider this configuration a modified version of the original cell where the original cell has been subsequently integrated with the respective portions of corresponding pipes. This modified cell configuration, now including the respective portions of the integrated pipes, may then be considered an alternate embodiment of the original cell. The integration of the cells of this alternate embodiment would then involve connecting the distal ends of the respective pipe sections between associated cells.

All potential degrees of integration of the cell housing bodies between the extremes discussed in the previous two paragraphs may be considered valid configurations for the device.

It should be noted that the cells need not be identical nor assembled in a planar grid, as in preferred embodiments previously discussed, and may be formed in any suitable regular or non-regular, planar or non-planar configurations consisting of any number of shells. Alternate planar embodiments may be arranged in a single row as in FIG. 29 , a grid as in FIG. 30 , a ring as in FIG. 31 , concentric rings, web or any other practical network. Additional non-planar alternate embodiments may include those in which the axes through which the shells transition between states are oriented radially extending outwardly from the central region of the device with shells arranged around a ring or along the surface of a sphere. One such alternate embodiment, where shells are arranged in a ring with shell transition axes oriented radially, may be seen in FIGS. 32-33 .

To facilitate making the device it may be manufactured in multiple pieces. These pieces may be created by dissection of the device into parts where the resulting parts are able to be manufactured individually with standard techniques in the state of the art, such as injection or compression molding, and subsequently assembled to produce the device in its entirety. The dissection of the device to create these parts may be planar, as in many preferred embodiments, though the dissection could be of any practical form. Planar dissections, however, facilitate manufacturing and subsequent assembly of the parts for the majority of embodiments. The mating of the parts resulting from the dissection of the device may include permanent or semi-permanent means of assembly. Permanent assembly may involve the use of appropriate adhesives or manufacturing of one part directly onto or over another via an over-molding process. Semi-permanent means of assembly may include the use of mating mechanical components such as snap or press fit joints. In preferred embodiments the method for mating the parts includes the integration of press or snap fit joint components formed directly into the associated parts. Inclusion of integrated press or snap fit joints during manufacturing of the individual parts allows both for simplified assembly of the parts and also affords the possibility of either replacing an individual part if it fails or allowing the user the ability to modify their device by mix matching parts of different colors and styles.

A preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 17-20 includes one dissection plane, as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 17 and associated split line (21). This dissection creates two parts where the top part (23) contains all flexible shells, integration flanges and top portion of the housing body and where the bottom part (22) contains the remaining portion of the housing body.

To further simplify manufacturing and assembly, the dissection of the device may be configured to pass coincident with or through the passages. In this way, during manufacturing the passages can be formed as channels in one or both parts such that when the corresponding parts are mated during assembly the passage is formed. In preferred embodiments the planar dissection is coincident with the top of the rectangular passages (24). For this configuration the passage would be manufactured as a channel in the bottom part such that after the parts are joined the top part encloses and forms the passages as shown in FIG. 20 .

A preferred embodiment of the top part in can be seen in FIGS. 21-24 and the corresponding bottom part can be seen in FIGS. 25-28 where joint components have been integrated into the respective parts (25). These joints are comprised of mating mechanical features integrated onto or into the respective parts. In preferred embodiments, press fit male components (26) are integrated onto the top part and corresponding press fit female components (27) are integrated into the bottom part. However, this configuration could just as well be transposed with the top part containing the female components and the bottom part incorporating the male components.

Though shown with a generally rectangular profile, this joint may employ any suitable profile shape or configuration common to the state of the art in press fit or snap-fit joints. Additionally, this joint may be continuous, i.e. annular, as in the preferred embodiment, or may be comprised of multiple individual press or snap fit interlocking features integrated into the parts along the path of dissection.

In preferred embodiments an annular press fit joint (28) encircles all shells. Additionally, annular press fit joints encircle regions around any holes in the device present between the shells (29). Since the above set of annular joints transit all possible paths for air to escape the internal volume of the device it is assured, after the associated parts are joined, that the device can maintain a fixed internal volume. For the previously discussed preferred embodiment with the device comprised of four deeply integrated cells in a planar grid there is only one hole through the center of the device between the shells around which an annular joint would be required. Similarly, for the alternate embodiment of FIG. 31 where the cells are deeply integrated in a planar ring there is also one hole though the center of the device between the shells around which an annular joint would be required. Other embodiments may have more holes as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 30 where four annular joints would be required to encircle each of the four holes between the shells. For all embodiments passages would connect the internal volumes under neighboring shells by passing between corresponding annular joints as can be seen in FIGS. 25-28 . Thus, after assembly and joining of the parts the internal volume of the device would be fixed and all internal volumes under the shells would be connected.

In preferred embodiments the device and its individual parts would be constructed from resilient materials safe for use in children toys that may include but are not limited to plastic, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, Thermo Plastic Elastomers (TPEs) and silicone. Additionally, the various components of the device may be of any color, transparency and finish.

The individual components and functional constituents of the device may also be formed or integrated into any other number of other products whereby the primary functionality of the device is maintained after the integration. In practice this would involve integrating the housing body with the associated product. An example could be where the device is fashioned and integrated into the back of a cell phone case. A natural configuration for this product integration would have the shells arranged in a planar grid covering the back of the case, though this arrangement is not strictly necessary. Other examples could be where the device is fashioned or integrated into a bracelet or ring where the shells may be distributed along the circumference with radially configured shell transition axes.

Although multiple embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly this invention is not to be limited, except as by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device comprising: a housing body; a plurality of flexible shells embedded into surface of said housing body; and a plurality of passages within said housing body connecting internal volumes under said flexible shells; wherein each of said flexible shells are configured either in a concave state or in a convex state, and wherein transition of one or more of said flexible shells in convex state to concave state results in transition of corresponding number of said flexible shells previously in concave state to convex state.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein number of said flexible shells initially in convex state is configurable.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said flexible shells are generally hemispherical.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said flexible shells also comprise a flexible annular integration flange that integrate said flexible shells to surface of said housing body.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein said flexible shells are oriented such that axes through which said flexible shells transition between concave and convex states are parallel or extend radially from a central region of said device.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein said flexible shells are arranged in a row, a grid, a ring or concentric rings.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein a cavity in said housing body under each of said flexible shells permits unobstructed transition of said flexible shells to concave state.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein profiles of said cavities generally align with contour of corresponding flexible shells when in concave state.
 9. The device of claim 7 wherein outer profile of said housing body is defined by a union of projected profiles of said cavities wherein said projected profiles are projected in a direction away from and generally tangent to corresponding profiles of said cavities.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing body is integrated with another product.
 11. A method for constructing a device comprising a housing body, a plurality of flexible shells embedded into surface of said housing body and a plurality of passages within said housing body connecting internal volumes under said flexible shells, the method comprising: constructing a plurality of cells each comprising a cell housing body, a flexible shell embedded into surface of said cell housing body and a cell cavity in said cell housing body under said flexible shell that permits unobstructed transition of said flexible shell to concave state; integrating said cells by joining said cell housing bodies to construct said housing body; connecting internal volumes of said cells with passageways between said cell cavities to construct said passages.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein integrating said cells comprises deep integration of cell housing bodies wherein profile of cell cavity for any given cell is aligned to be coincident with outer profile of cell housing body of neighboring cells.
 13. A method for making a device comprising a housing body, a plurality of flexible shells embedded into surface of said housing body and a plurality of passages within said housing body connecting internal volumes under said flexible shells, the method comprising: decomposing into a plurality of parts; forming said parts; assembling and joining said parts.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein decomposing into a plurality of parts comprises a planar dissection of said housing body.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein decomposing into a plurality of parts comprises a dissection of said housing body wherein said dissection also dissects said passages.
 16. The method of claim 13 wherein decomposing into a plurality of parts comprises a dissection of said housing body resulting in all said flexible shells being contained in one of said parts.
 17. The method of claim 13 further comprising integrating mating joint components to said parts wherein corresponding mating joint components engage during joining of said parts.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein integrating mating joint components to said parts comprises integrating male press fit joint components onto parts containing flexible shells and integrating mating female press fit joint components into corresponding parts.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein integrating mating joint components to said parts comprises an annular joint encircling all flexible shells and annular joints encircling any holes through parts between said shells.
 20. The method of claim 13 wherein forming of said parts comprises injection molding of said parts. 